Chateaupers to the Rescue — The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Quasimodo is still on the gallery, almost without hope of saving the gypsy. A gallop fills the streets. Horsemen with torches and lances burst onto the Place, shouting for France, for Châteaupers, and for the provostship. He cannot hear the cries. He sees the swords and Captain Phœbus at their head, and the vagabonds wheel round in fright. From that help he finds strength again and hurls down the first men who have climbed into the gallery.

These are the king's troops. The outcasts fight hard, struck from the side and from behind, while they still attack Notre-Dame and Quasimodo still defends it. Phœbus presses the charge, and the horsemen give no quarter. Clopin Trouillefou moves among the horses with a great scythe, singing, until an arquebus shot lays him low. Neighbours fire down from the windows. Smoke covers the Parvis. At last the vagabonds break and flee, leaving the square full of dead. Quasimodo kneels, then runs to the cell. He means to kneel before the girl he has saved a second time. The cell is empty.